Environmentalists say the planned legislation has been diluted and does not tackle exposure to the most harmful of chemicals.

REBEL MP George Galloway announced last night he will stand against Labour in next year's European elections.

Mr Galloway said he wanted to build a movement, based on the anti-Iraq war coalition, to stand against Labour in every European seat in England and Wales next June.

The Glasgow Kelvin MP told BBC Scotland he will not resign his seat to create an early by-election.

He also plans to fight his expulsion from the Labour Party in the courts.

Last week Mr Galloway said he would stand against Labour as an independent after being thrown out of the party for his outspoken opposition to the war in Iraq.

CITY finance experts will show headteachers how to manage their budgets under a plan to prevent a repeat of this year's school budgets crisis.

The plan was unveiled yesterday by Education Secretary Charles Clarke who

said that although he was responsible, along with local authorities, for what happened this year, poor financial management made things worse in some schools. He told the Commons in a statement that management consultants KPMG would work with the school for heads, known as the National College for School Leadership, to draw up "guidance" .